GPs can now claim a new MBS item when ordering a faecal calprotectin test to rule out inflammatory bowel disease in under-50s.

From 1 November, doctors will also have access to Medicare rebates for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to diagnose hypertension and point-of-care HbA1c tests to monitor patients with existing diabetes.

The funding for stool calprotectin screening, which may spare many patients from endoscopy, was flagged in this year’s budget, with the Federal Government claiming it would save $27 million over four years.

The new item, 66522, can be ordered for patients presenting with relevant gastrointestinal symptoms of more than six weeks’ duration.